The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-01
woMAN's SUFFRAGE.
A Mrs. Toodies would Like to Say a
few Words

NORTH CONWAY, Feb. 26, 1887
North Conway in mid winter is as fine
place as could be imagined in which to medi-
tate on grave subjects. What With the snow
five feet deep on the level, and what with
snow drifts along the roads and in every di-
rection, whose depthI do not like to tell lest
so extraordinary statement prejudice the
readers of the PRESS, in the beginning
against what in all humility ! wish to say.
and what with whirling snow, clouds so
dense and so furious that half the time the
buildings only across the highway, are hid
den from sight, ones mind must perforce
be her sole kingdom, though she were the
most energetic woman suffragist that ever
battled or plead or worked to get the ballot.
Ii your correspondent seems to be intrud-
ing because she does not live in the State of
Maine, my excuse is that it is my native
state, and that have lived there the most of
my life. When Mrs. TOodles bought n door
plate with Thompson" on it. she thought
that perhaps she might sometime have a
daughter who might marry a man of the
name OF Thompson, and then the doorplate
would come handy; my little son when he
grows up may, very likely, go to Maine to
i've; II the woman suffrage movement pre-
vail there, it would have its effect on his
WIN VI piOltnolOH Ut BUSINESS, so L am lust
as much interested as anybody else.
Once was the time when the commonly ac
cepted teachings of the Bible in some of
these matters would have been listened to pa
tlently and with respect, but it is not now.
FOR instance, fancy that there are few who
nave not heard i said that st. Paul was a
cranky, old bachelor" that he was mar
row" and the like, because of certain utter
ances concerning the public demeanor of
NO, women, 30 II one were to say anything pue-
nciy about woman suffrage, it would not be
polite nor ALPHABETICALLY, how readily and
naturally these fine words, neither of which
signifies slncereness or impartiality, come to
MIND when one ponders ON the political are
ma ma tnat we are to dignity, and whose con-
not be polite nor diplomatic to even aliude
to these antiquated notions.
Let that pass. 1t is disagreeable not to be
strictly lmpersonal in writing about such
subjects as this, but the Press correspon-
dents nave found 1t convenient to refer to
eachother, that they might make themselves
understood, so | likewise.
"D' has written of "the arguments so for
chile and full of weight, sufficient reply TO
al argument OF late put forth against the
movement contained in the Rev. Mr.. Henry
Blanchard's ANSWER to the RemonstranceS
Let us not deceive ourselves. Mr.. Blan-
clard states that he was surprised on reading
the petition, because the statements /. O..
That the responsibilities of elections will in
voive women in the ambitious intrigues of
politics and in the competition of business.
VIII impair the integrity of their devotion to
domestic duties, and will deteriorate the
character and consideration which gives
tnem the influence they now exert in society.
nave been In his judgment 'irrefutably an
swered."
!, But there be those who do not think that
these objections have been irrefutably an
swered. will not yield to the temptation to
cue instances OF women who, through kind
ness Tor klnsmen, have already been sus-
pected of having been involved in the in
trlgues OF politics, and who would not be
nkelyto be made more honest by being given
greater power Mrs. Caswell says that now
when women urge any moral reform they
are believed to be honest, that their motives
are ABOVE reproach, and who of us will avow
that when she reads of some politicians be-
ing profoundly interested in some public
movement, she does not often, immediately
ana inyoluntarlly suspect him of having
some political axe to grind?"
Nay, some Of us are decidedly of the opinion
That imposing the duty of voting upon us
would be the old story of Samson and Delilah
reversed; in being shorn of our long hair we
exceedingly fear we should be shorn of
our strength to DO good, and should ultimate
ly bring down ruin upon ourselves. And
might there not be danger that many of the
PhlllStlnes would go down likewise?
d expresses herself as being very glad
that the PRESS has set the views of the OBJ
posing parties side by side; at this dispas-
sionate distance, and among these calm and
cooling snow drifts, really do not see how
she can feel so, looking at the matter as she
does Mr.. Blanchard says, that some of the
have given "some" study, pos
slDly much, to woman suffrage, he shall not
deny, but he pleads for greater study, more,
and renewed. Now, we are all of us prone
to fancy that those who talk the most
about thing have thought the most about
u, have studied" it the most But some
times this is not true. The sutfragists have
q almost all of the talking so far. There
they should not, but It would be somewhat
rash to adopt-Mr. Blanchard's evident con-
cluslon from this circumstance
AS to the next argument viz: the cul-
lure ana ability and character of divers
of whom he is willing to believe that we
must know something" and their convic- |
lons that women ought to vote. Oh, sisters. |
et us accept no man nor woman as infallible |
n articles OF political faithl five do, and
am afraid that we should only trouble our
e ,vos OF e.ieetie,, tiaaSe w nud out who had
peer neen nominated by our party, and consider
that all the intelligence necessary for direc-
ton, just as the mass of men do now, and
then how ever should we elevate and purify
politics?
1t would be easy, too, to cite distinguished
men ana women who have opposed women's
other people think-be they never SO great
is not arguing"
Mr.. Blanchard in his fourth argument de-
clares 1t his belief that the great body of
women are as intelligent as the great body
Of men; we have all of us always believed
that but why ought we to vote because of
It? He says he holds that women are more
conscientious than men. Alas and alas. if
his were but true! but the Holy Scriptures
10 not teach us so, nor history, nor the news
papers of the present day, nor our own
of the world nor our obsery |
ngof the life of the people of this nine |
zenith century
But of vital concern to every woman is
his: eve believe that it is the duty of |
women to be the helpers of men in securing |
'ood laws and good executors of law. We |
10 not ask women to demand and use the |
outrage only because it is their right, but |
because 1t is their high duty to co-work with |
men in affairs of state.'
Now many have believed that woman has |
'een already heavily burdened from the be- |
inning, that she must be SO to the end that |
bearing and rearing faithfully sons and |
aughters, in making happy homes, in work. |
ng for churches, among the poor, as mis-
lonaries, as nurses in hospitals, in schools, |
working for public charities working in in |
ane asylums, aud in the temperance cause, |
nat she was not worthy of ireproach;
nat q she was doing, her part, performing all
u her high duty"
But the Sweet and Pleasant History of
'atlent Grissel" has furnished type of fe-
iiai - excellence always exceeding comforta-
ne 70 the masculine mind. II seems that
oinah mas not borne enough. She is told
nav man needs her help in politics, in the
cience OF living together nobly. She is to be
I put Upon. upon more and more. But if the poor
men need her help in politically the wav
low unfortunately sic nj fcn ~ a.. 81 muay